Alex Rodriguez appeals 211-game suspension, hits the field

CHICAGO -- Alex Rodriguez stepped to the plate as fans stood and booed him. He then blooped a single in his first at-bat of the season.

Hours after Major League Baseball suspended the New York Yankees star through the 2014 season in the Biogenesis drug case, Chicago White Sox fans got their say Monday night.

And, boy, did they let him hear it.

They jeered him during pregame warm-ups and introductions, and they really tore into him when he walked to the batter's box leading off the second inning.

On the third pitch, Rodriguez dunked a hit into shallow left field. He made it to third base with no outs but was stranded.

Rodriguez flied out in his next two at-bats and then took a called third strike in the eighth inning while fans chanted "Steroids! Steroids!" He also handled a few grounders at third base as Chicago snapped a 10-game losing streak with an 8-1 victory over the struggling Yankees.

At 38 and coming back from hip surgery, Rodriguez said he is fighting for his career in appealing his 211-game suspension, which would run through the 2014 season.

"I just hope that there's a happy ending there somewhere," he said.

He did not deny using performance-enhancing drugs in a news conference at U.S. Cellular Field after the punishment came down, and he said he will talk about whether he used PEDs at another time when he is more free to speak.

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He did, however, dig in for a battle, saying no one else will defend him unless he stands up for himself. Then, he took to the field, batting fourth against the White Sox.

"There's nothing about it that's been easy," Rodriguez said before the game. "All of it has been challenging. I'm sure there's been mistakes made along the way. We're here now. I'm a human being. I've had two hip surgeries. I've had two knee surgeries. I'm fighting for my life. I have to defend myself. If I don't defend myself, no one else will. There's a process. I'm happy with the process. In due time, hopefully whatever happens, happens."

The Yankees are hoping something good happens with him on the field. They are out of playoff position and desperate for power, especially their third basemen -- the players they have had playing that spot this season had a combined 32 RBIs, fewest in the majors according to STATS, and were hitting .215 with four homers.

Rodriguez, with 647 career home runs, arrived at the ballpark in a dark gray Cadillac around 3:10 p.m. CT and waved when a fan shouted "A-Rod!" on his way into the stadium.

In the clubhouse, his locker was jammed with the usual clothing and equipment, and there was a scouting report on his chair.

It all looked so ordinary, yet there was nothing ordinary about this day.

The three-time MVP was one of 13 players disciplined Monday, one of the biggest mass suspensions in the history of the game.

Because he is appealing the suspension, he probably will be able to play the rest of this season while his case winds through arbitration.

Before his first game since Oct. 18, Rodriguez signed autographs and drew a crowd -- of both fans and photographers.

Rodriguez said "a lot" went into his decision to appeal his case but added "I'm not going to get into any of that today."

"What we've always fought for was for the process, and I think we have that and at some point we'll sit in front of an arbiter and give our case," he said. "And that's as much as I feel comfortable telling you right now."

Asked if he denies using PEDs, Rodriguez said, "Like I said, we'll have a forum to discuss all of that and we'll talk about it then."

If he hasn't used PEDs since then, why not say it?

"There's a lot of things that have been thrown to the wall, and I think when the time is right, there will be an opportunity to do all of that," he said. "I don't think that time is right now. And I don't want to interfere or get in the way of anything that -- with the process."

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez answers questions from the media during a press conference after a minor league baseball rehab start with the Trenton Thunder in a game against the Reading Fightin Phils, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013 at Arm & Hammer Park in Trenton, N.J.. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

On Friday, Rodriguez hinted that the Yankees did not want him back and were trying to avoid paying him the $94.5 million they owe him through 2017.

Union executive director Michael Weiner said those comments were probably out of frustration and that Rodriguez would probably agree they were "counterproductive."

Weiner also said he and Rodriguez have talked since then -- but not about those comments.

"But I would guess that all things considered, and having thought about it a little bit, he's probably not very happy with those comments," Weiner added.

Rodriguez brushed off a question about the comment he made Friday, saying "Today is another day, and I'm focused on what my job is and my responsibilities to the New York Yankees and to the fan base of New York."

He thanked the fans, media, people from the Dominican Republic and Hispanics "all over the world" for their support.

Whether he has the Yankees' support is another issue.

Rodriguez batted .120 (3 for 25) with no RBIs last postseason, including 0 for 18 with 12 strikeouts against right-handers.

"It's been a long time for me, and the last time I was on the field it wasn't pretty," he said. "I was horrific."

Inside

Twelve players, including three All-Stars, accept 50-game suspensions for their relationship with the Biogenesis clinic. PAGE 4